Two of them told FMT they were looking forward to working again.

A minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Mohd Redzuan Yusof, told the Dewan Rakyat last Tuesday the government could not “permanently close nightclubs as long as there is compliance with the SOPs set”.

This came less than a week after Kuala Lumpur mayor Mahadi Che Ngah said his office was “open to meeting entertainment business owners and discussing the matter” of reopening, although he added that caution must be exercised to avoid worsening the Covid-19 situation.

DJ Kuma, who has more than 20 years of local and international experience, said the development was great news for performers and operators alike.

“I’ve been jobless for nine months,” he said. “It’s boring. It affects your mental health.

“It’s been really tough for the whole ecosystem, from the owners to the waiters, chefs and everyone.”

A proposal that the Klang Valley Pub, Nightclub and Bar Association has submitted to the government suggests cutting capacity by half to maintain physical distancing among patrons.

Kuma said this might affect the experience the venues could provide, but added that performers would at least get the chance to work again.

“Anything that allows us to come back, even with restrictions, will be great,” he said. “Fifty percent is still better than nothing. People might be sceptical at first, and it’s going to take time to fill up, but it’ll be great.”

Victor Goh, another DJ, agreed that the government’s openness was “a great first step” and said clubgoers and performers would have to make concessions in order to facilitate reopening.

“This is just something we’ll have to accept until a vaccine is found,” he said. “We have to accept the reality that it might not be quite as fun, and the same goes for other live events and festivals.

“These places are important parts of society’s work-life balance. People need an outlet to let loose and have fun.”

He said the government could emulate what Singapore would be doing in December and January. During the two months, there will be a test programme that will increase the surveillance of venues and require would-be patrons to test negative for the Covid-19 virus 24 hours before going to nightclubs.

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